Fairtrade

In 2006 Richmond upon Thames was awarded Fairtrade status by the Fairtrade Foundation. This came after a year of determined campaigning by the Richmond Fairtrade Steering Group who campaigned and promoted Fairtrade within the borough gaining support from local businesses, churches, schools and the Richmond Council. But what does it mean to be a Fairtrade borough?

• Richmond Council has committed to supporting Fairtrade in the borough and now provides Fairtrade products wherever possible.
• We have over 100 retails outlets that now provide Fairtrade products.
• We have a number of large organisation that support Fairtrade products in the borough including Kew Gardens and the National Physical Laboratories.
• There are over 35 churches supporting Fairtrade within the borough.
• Schools are actively promoting Fairtrade and we have our first Fairtrade School – the Queen’s School in Kew.
• There is a steering group that actively promotes Fairtrade within the borough.

What is Fairtrade?

Fairtrade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for producers and workers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system. If fair access to markets under better trade conditions would help them to overcome barriers to development, they can join Fairtrade.

For a product to display the Fairtrade Mark it must meet international Fairtrade standards which are set by the international certification body Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International. These standards are agreed through a process of research and consultation with key participants in the Fairtrade scheme, including producers themselves, traders, NGOs, academic institutions and labelling organisations such as the Fairtrade Foundation.

To find out more about Fairtrade visit the Fairtrade Foundation.

What can I do?

Join the Fairtrade Steering Group.

The Fairtrade Steering Group group undertakes the survey of Fairtrade retail outlets, organises and attends events and looks for opportunities to promote Fairtrade within the borough. To find out more contact enquiries@richmondfairtrade.org.uk

Fairtrade School Status

If you are a teacher, teaching assistant, school governor or parent you could encourage your school to apply for Fairtrade School Status. The Fairtrade Foundation has produced an information pack that outlines how to become a Fairtrade school and also contains teaching resources that support the National Curriculum.

Buy Fairtrade

Or you could just start to buy more Fairtrade products. There are nearly 3000 products that are Fairtrade and by buying more or asking shops whether they stock Fairtrade you can make a difference. The Richmond Fairtrade Steering Group has produced a guide of where you can purchase Fairtrade goods in shops, cafes and restaurants. You can pick up a copy at one of the borough libraries or downland the map(pdf, 46KB) and further details(pdf, 93KB).